CHAPTER 21
![023](/epubstore/P/M-Puzo/Six-graves-to-munich/OEBPS/puzo_9781101404430_oeb_023_r1.jpg)
Arthur Bailey paced the office of the CIA
communications center in the U.S. Army headquarters outside Munich.
Early that morning he had sent a coded radiogram to the Pentagon
explaining the entire situation regarding von Osteen and Rogan. He
had recommended that no action be taken by his organization. Now he
was waiting impatiently for the answer.
It was nearly midday before a reply was received.
The clerk took it into the top secret decoding room, and half an
hour later the message was placed in Bailey’s hands. It stunned
him. It instructed him to have von Osteen guarded and to inform the
German police of Rogan’s intentions. This course of action would be
so disastrous, Bailey thought, that he decided to use the
radiophone to the Pentagon. The code signature on the reply was
that of a former German teammate of Bailey’s, Fred Nelson. They
couldn’t speak too freely over the radiophone, but maybe Bailey
could get his message across to Nelson. And he sure as hell had to
hurry. Rogan might be right behind Judge von Osteen this
minute.
It took him ten minutes to get a connection. After
identifying himself he said cautiously, “Do you people know what
the hell you’re doing with those instructions you sent me? You
could blow the whole political setup sky-high.”
Nelson’s voice was cool and noncommittal. “That
decision came from the top in Intelligence. It’s been cleared by
the State people. So just go ahead and follow orders.”
Bailey said disgustedly, “They’re all crazy.” His
voice sounded so worried that Nelson took pity on him.
“That one aspect you’re worried about,” Nelson said
guardedly, “that’s being taken care of.”
Nelson was referring to the letters Rogan had sent
to his friends in the States. “Yes, I understand,” Bailey said.
“What was done about that?”
“We’ve kept a file on him since your first report.
We know everybody he might correspond with, and we’ve placed a
postal intercept on the post of every person he knows.”
Bailey was genuinely surprised. “Can you get away
with that in the States? I didn’t think of that at all.”
“National security. We can do anything.” Nelson
sounded sardonic. “Will this guy let himself be taken alive?”
“No.”
“He’d better not be,” Nelson said, and broke the
connection.
Bailey cursed himself for having called instead of
just following instructions. He knew what Nelson’s last remark
meant. He had to make sure that Rogan was not captured alive, or
not allowed to remain alive after he was captured. They didn’t want
him talking about von Osteen.
Bailey got into the waiting staff car and told the
driver to take him to the Palace of Justice in Munich. He didn’t
think Rogan had had enough time to make his move, but he wanted to
make sure. Then he would pick up Vrostk, and they would both go to
the pension and finish Rogan off.